How to retrain your brain for weight loss

You know that expression “I’m just hard wired that way?”

The idea being that we are what we are, our brains are hooked up in a certain way, and that’s all there is to it.

That’s just not so.

We now know that our brains can change…which means that you can create new wiring that’s more supportive to your wellbeing.

Rewiring your brain can impact happiness, resiliency, health and yes…weight loss.

It’s called neuroplasticity.

I’m soooo into neuroplasticity – the idea that our brain and nervous system is a dynamic, plastic and changeable system.

The reason I’m so into it, is because I finally have a word, a scientific concept that backs up my experience of what I know to be true – from my own personal growth and development – as well as from the transformation my clients have witnessed time and time again.

When we change how we think, we change our whole being and when we change what we eat -how we act, how we nourish and nurture ourselves – we change how we think.

We are always shifting, changing, transforming. I love it (this is what I geek out on!)

So if you’re someone who thinks “I can’t change, or I’ll never lose my unwanted weight,” or “this is just the way I am and I’ll never really love myself” – you’re wrong.

Here are two powerful and do-able ways for you to start retraining your brain to support weight-loss (and overall wellness).

1. Awareness

Catch your thoughts in action. Notice what you are thinking and saying to yourself. Are you saying mean things whenever you look in the mirror or get dressed? Are you paving neural pathways that support you to feel good about yourself – or to feel bad about yourself?

We have to shine the light of awareness on whatever our current patterns are before we can start to change them.

2. Interrupt the pattern

Find one phrase that will interrupt your habitual pattern. Something like:  “What would a dear friend say to me right now?” or “How could I be kind to myself right now?”

When we interrupt negative self-talk, we support our body to shift from a stress response (our reaction to being treated poorly), to a more relaxed state (our reaction to being treated with love and kindness).

The relaxation response is what allows our body to kick our metabolism into high-gear and improve our calorie-burning capacity.

These two steps are do-able, but they take practice. We get into habits of creating a stressful internal state because of what we say to ourselves, because our to-do list is a mile long, and because life is full of challenges.

The cool thing about neuroplasticity is that you don’t have to change everything about your external life to feel a positive shift.

Changing what you think and what you say to yourself will change your nervous system – which impacts your metabolism – and your overall happiness.

If you’d like support creating this kind of fundamental change, let connect!

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Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every women deserves to feel good in their own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life!  She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and NourishedWomanNation.com 

She helps busy women look and feel their best, and helps them feed their kids well in a world that doesn’t.

She’s the author of “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: an everyday guide to make healthy food happen in your home and beyond”. She’s also the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

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